Virupaksha, Guardian of
the West, ink and colours on a silk
banner

Although the bottom streamers are now kept
separately, this banner is preserved in very good condition, with
its triangular headpiece still attached. The
Guardian
Kings trampling on demons and supported by
clouds were a popular subject among the paintings found at Mogao.
Here we see Virupaksha, Guardian King of the West, whose attribute
is the sword.

Despite the
popularity of the subject, the colouring and execution differ from
the standard Chinese style used in the ninth century. The figure
appears to be very flat, and is barely contained in the narrow
dimensions of the banner. His arms and legs appear uncomfortably
twisted and flattened out. His armour is densely shaded and
decorated, and he is wearing very decorative shoes instead of the
more usual sandals. These features link this painting to Uygur art,
for example to the wall paintings from Bezeklik in the Turfan area.
The Uygurs were the most important neighbours of Dunhuang in the
tenth century, controlling the Silk Road both east and west.
Dunhuang's Chinese governors had marriage links with the
Ganzhou branch of the Uygurs, who could, and did, block westward
trade with central China at will.